An Oscar-winning Hollywood star celebrated as one of the world’s most beautiful women goes public about her double mastectomy to help increase awareness of how to beat breast cancer

My mother fought cancer for almost a decade and died at 59. She held out long enough to meet the first of her grandchildren and to hold them in her arms. But my other children will never have the chance to know her and experience how loving and gracious she was.

We often speak of “Mommy’s mommy,” and I find myself trying to explain the illness that took her away from us. They have asked if the same could happen to me. I have always told them not to worry, but the truth is I carry a “faulty” gene, BRCA1, which sharply increases my risk of developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer.

Double risk

My doctors estimated that I had an 87 per cent risk of breast cancer and a 50 per cent risk of ovarian cancer, although the risk is different in the case of each woman.

Only a fraction of breast cancers result from an inherited gene mutation. Those with a defect in BRCA1 have a 65 per cent risk of getting it, on average.

Once I knew that this was my reality, I decided to be proactive and to minimise the risk as much I could. I made a decision to have a preventive double mastectomy. I started with the breasts, as my risk of breast cancer is higher than my risk of ovarian cancer, and the surgery is more complex.

On April 27, I finished the three months of medical procedures that the mastectomies involved. During that time I have been able to keep this private and to carry on with my work.

But I am writing about it now because I hope that other women can benefit from my experience. Cancer is still a word that strikes fear into people’s hearts, producing a deep sense of powerlessness. But today it is possible to find out through a blood test whether you are highly susceptible to breast and ovarian cancer, and then take action.

Advances in procedure

My own process began on February 2 with a procedure known as a “nipple delay,” which rules out disease in the breast ducts behind the nipple and draws extra blood flow to the area. This causes some pain and a lot of bruising, but it increases the chance of saving the nipple.

Two weeks later I had the major surgery, where the breast tissue is removed and temporary fillers are put in place. The operation can take eight hours. You wake up with drain tubes and expanders in your breasts. It does feel like a scene out of a science-fiction film. But days after surgery you can be back to a normal life.

Nine weeks later, the final surgery is completed with the reconstruction of the breasts with an implant. There have been many advances in this procedure in the last few years, and the results can be beautiful.

I wanted to write this to tell other women that the decision to have a mastectomy was not easy. But it is one I am very happy that I made. My chances of developing breast cancer have dropped from 87 per cent to under 5 per cent. I can tell my children that they don’t need to fear they will lose me to breast cancer.

It is reassuring that they see nothing that makes them uncomfortable. They can see my small scars and that’s it. Everything else is just Mommy, the same as she always was. And they know that I love them and will do anything to be with them as long as I can. On a personal note, I do not feel any less of a woman. I feel empowered that I made a strong choice that in no way diminishes my femininity.

I am fortunate to have a partner, Brad Pitt, who is so loving and supportive. So to anyone who has a wife or girlfriend going through this, know that you are a very important part of the transition. Brad was at the Pink Lotus Breast Center, where I was treated, for every minute of the surgeries. We managed to find moments to laugh together. We knew this was the right thing to do for our family and that it would bring us closer. And it has.

About options

For any woman reading this, I hope it helps you to know you have options. I want to encourage every woman, especially if you have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer, to seek out the information and medical experts who can help you through this aspect of your life, and to make your own informed choices.

I acknowledge that there are many wonderful holistic doctors working on alternatives to surgery. My own regimen will be posted in due course on the website of the Pink Lotus Breast Center. I hope that this will be helpful to other women.

Breast cancer alone kills some 458,000 people each year, according to the World Health Organization, mainly in low- and middle-income countries. It has got to be a priority to ensure that more women can access gene testing and lifesaving preventive treatment, whatever their means and background, wherever they live. The cost of testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2, at more than $3,000 in the United States, remains an obstacle for many women.

I choose not to keep my story private because there are many women who do not know that they might be living under the shadow of cancer.

It is my hope that they, too, will be able to get gene tested, and that if they have a high risk they, too, will know that they have strong options.

Life comes with many challenges. The ones that should not scare us are the ones we can take on and take control of.

By sacrificing her breasts to avoid cancer and to promote an awareness of cancer among women is a great thing and she deserves huge compliments and kudos.By this rare gesture she not only saved herself from the cancer of breast but also tried to make every woman to be careful of this curable disease if detected early.Angelina is one of the most beautiful woman of the day and through this gesture she has become not only a beautiful figure but her heart too became more beautiful with love and kindness towards the victims of breast cancer.

from:
JP Reddy

Posted on: May 15, 2013 at 21:04 IST

When I heard this news for the first time, i thought it was a paranoid act. But, on retrospect, to each his own.

If one looks and thinks from her perspective, yes, there are high chances of being a breast cancer victim since her mother was detected with the same. The stand that she took is of a concerned mother- that she wants to be there for her children. How sweet! and how very considerate to want to be there for one's child. The reason for her is very clear and the need for a long life above any body part is also justified. I cannot fully well understand this decision as i am not a mother to her kids but, do respect the love she has for her kids.

Also, if one decides to do away with any organ (however well functioning) without harming one's general health and well being, what's the big deal!? Medically she is fit, let her have the peace of mind as well of not being a breast cancer victim.

from:
Shridevi

Posted on: May 15, 2013 at 15:03 IST

I beg to differ.Ms Jolie has set a wrong precedent and played into the hands of pharma industry.

Ms.Jolie has 'high risk of cancer', she is not 'sure of having cancer' and she has not been diagnosed with cancer.

What she calls 'proactive' is 'paranoid'. All humans have high risk of many diseases. These risks arise from genetic of environmental reasons, but one cannot go about removing body parts to remove risks. For example, if Ms. Jolie investigates, she can surely find out her chances of lung cancer/throat cancer/heart attack , will she consider removing these organs.

from:
Abhinav

Posted on: May 15, 2013 at 13:54 IST

Certainly a wrong medical decision taken out of sheer fear. Carrying the faulty gene does not necessarily mean breast cancer. No doubt her example would be followed by many & there would be un-necessary mastectomy. She is beautiful & is an activist does not necessarily mean, she is always right & every decision of her needs to be cheered.

from:
V Pat

Posted on: May 15, 2013 at 13:39 IST

While I sympathize with the actress on her health condition and wishing her good recovery, I feel the modern medicine is taking advantage of her celebrity status to increase more fear$ in public to increase the Profits for Medical$ industry. Modern medicine never or almost donot find the root cause and fix it but rather manage the disease. While Alternative/Natural treatments attempt to find the root causes. The more fearful the ppl are more $ for the Oncologists/Docs. Cancer patients are treated with harmful chemotherapy drugs which reduces their immune power and most succumb to this disease in few years. Alternative systems are kept out of reach of public or never encouraged by Modern medicine and the industry. My own uncle who was never given or encouraged for alternative methods, died of cancer and the chemo drugs were so dangerous to his otherwise weak body. He was willing to try alternative systems at the end it was too late..Always research on natural/ayurvedic systems.

from:
Krish

Posted on: May 15, 2013 at 12:56 IST

It would have been useful , if The Hindu had put up some scientific evidence which provides us the risk benefit analysis of similar surgeries on the Individual and healthcare system. We should focus more on screening and counselling than attempt to showcase such events.

from:
Ananth

Posted on: May 15, 2013 at 11:08 IST

a very encouraging and brave account.Prevention is certainly better than cure, specially in the case of something as deadly and feared as cancer.

from:
jasnoor

Posted on: May 15, 2013 at 09:56 IST

the news that the leading hollywood actress while in the peak of her career has undergone double mastectomy, by itself is sensational and star news; but then she has aired the news for the cause of public awareness is yet another feather on her cap.the support she got from her he companion is commendable and laudable.i wish her many more years of good health and sound mind to take up the cause of public service.

Respect for you, lady, respect!

from:
Rudra

Posted on: May 15, 2013 at 08:38 IST

A celebrity disclosing this will do a world of good to women who are suffering from the condition and will encourage them to take the bold step. The detection cost for BRCA1 and BRCA2 at $3000 is way too much especially for women in third world countries. I hope some charitable Organisations will take the step forward in bringing down the cost associated and making the test more affordable.It also makes me wonder if it is ethical to charge so much for a medical test which can be life saving, may be Government should try to subsidize the cost involved.

from:
Ajay Prasad J

Posted on: May 15, 2013 at 08:31 IST

Madam Angelia has become more beautiful than before by her personality and her intent to help the others. she is a real star.

from:
Dr. Subhash DT

Posted on: May 15, 2013 at 07:20 IST

Dear Angelina Jolie I am personally happy that you got tested for hereditary disease transmitting from Mother to daughter.As a determined soldier you underwent surgery and reduced the risk to minimum for yourself ,your family and by coming out publicly to educate potential patients in the world.you are a bold person and an exemplary women. I am proud of you.

from:
pandharpurkar tilak sharmapts

Posted on: May 15, 2013 at 05:43 IST

Genetic testing to predict cancer 100% is yet to be proved by many cases.One can ampute breast even after detacting cancer in the first stage.There are not one but hundreds of cases cured that way including two of my closest relatives.This case and approach seems out of x'sive fear.
Also there are chances that even after removal of breasts,cancer do appear nearby,depending upon the individual body system.